The "Coming Back" episode of "Friends" brings back memories of a TV style on the verge of extinction
The six heroes of the "Friends" series meet again for a special episode expected by the online platform "HBO Max" in the United States on Thursday, to bring back with them memories of an almost fading pattern in television production, with the participation of a constellation of prominent stars.
With their nearly 50 years old, some wrinkles on the face and sometimes chunky bodies, the six friends may not resemble the image they printed in viewers' minds with the characters of Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Joey and Chandler during the "Friends" show between 1994 and 2004.
But that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the audience, so anxious to see again Thursday the Six Friends, who are reuniting for only the second time since the series ended 17 years ago, David Schwimmer (Ross) said last month.
Matt LeBlanc (Joy) said in an interview with the American "Pebble" magazine about the episode presented by "HBO Max" at midnight on Thursday Los Angeles time, "When we are reunited, we feel as if we have never separated."
This episode, which was filmed in a public place for the platform "HBO Max", which owns the rights to show "Friends" in the United States, will be moderated by British presenter James Corden. It will not be the 237th episode of the series, but rather "a very entertaining interview," according to David Schwimmer.
The episode is full of stories, readings of the texts of some of the most famous scenes, in addition to a test inspired by the episode. A galaxy of famous guests will also participate, including Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, David Beckham, and even the South Korean group "BTS".
"Freight" magazine reported that each of the six actors asked for two and a half million dollars in exchange for appearing in this episode in which the production team recreated the decor of Monica and Rachel's famous apartment in the studios in Burbank, California.
Courtney Cox (Monica) said that the filming location for the episode was "identical" to the original site, adding, "It was so emotional that we couldn't hold back our tears."
Nearly 27 years after its launch on NBC, "Friends" is still one of the rare series of the twentieth century that continues to achieve success in the current crowded television scene.
"The continued popularity of Friends is not surprising," said Alice Libert, a professor at Oceanus University in Pennsylvania, who is the author of a script for the series.
Nick Marks, a professor specializing in television affairs at Colorado State University, explains that the sitcoms (stand-up comedies) from the 1990s such as "Friends", "Seinfeld" and "Fraser" were produced "for everyone to gather around them beyond age and boundaries."
He notes that the timing of the launch of this "unique" series contributed to its success as it came just before the major transformation in the world of television at the end of the nineties.
He says that with the great increase in the number of channels, especially platforms, series "which gather a small but very loyal audience" have become a priority. "There is no ability to gather 20 or 30 million viewers," he said, except in a few events, such as the "Super Bowl" match.
The recent hit series "Seitcom" such as "Blackish", "One Day at A Time" and "Sheets Creek" offer a more realistic view of today's world.
